8 July 2013

Gays, nerds, and ex-cons all welcome at Vikings clubs

| Barcham
Join the conversation
24

We were directed towards this new ad campaign for the Vikings Group by Rioter James.

So, I turned on local tv for the first time in months last night…

Have the Vikings Clubs been running some strange variety of “We’re comfortable with gays, now” campaign under an “Everybody’s Welcome” banner for long?

Also, they’re either reaching out to or making fun of the Magic: The Gathering and the former-prisoner crowds.

I’m really not entirely sure what kind of angle they’re trying for.

Personally I think it’s pretty great that a club is making a public effort to welcome and encourage diversity.

The ads themselves are a little heavy handed and lame, but the message is a solid one.

Everyone’s welcome.

That is a wonderful message to make.

However just saying nice things is boring so let’s look at what’s confusing me…

Gays, nerds, and ex-cons? These are the minorities they’re trying to reach? EX-CONS?

You’re worried that former drug dealers and shoplifters may feel unwelcome in your club?

Was there actual market research into who doesn’t like going to the Vikings club involved here, or did someone just pick these three groups at random? Are these three groups what the marketing department at vikings thinks makes up Canberra’s minorities?

Also what’s going on with the Magic one? Collectable card games are welcome, but not in front of girls unless the girls also are into collectable card games?

I do like that it flips the whole sexiest ‘geeky stuff is only for boys’ trope on its head, but it keeps the ‘nerds are terrified of women’ trope in play.

Because that joke has just gotten funnier and more accurate since it was used in every movie and TV show ever since the 80’s.

Whatever I don’t know. Let’s go back to looking at the positives.

Nerds can play Magic the Gathering at the club, along with their fellow minorities like gay people, and former arsonists.

That’s a good thing.

I’ll bring my new red/black deck.

Oh my...

Join the conversation

24
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

YouGoonie said :

Haha mates and I were just talking about how bad these ads are and thought we would check Riot act. Good to see its been posted and commented on. These ads are terrible on so many levels. Cant believe The Vikings Club has run with them – they are embarrassing.

Once again Zoo Advertising shows how bad they really are. Hate to think how much they charged for these – lets hope they did them for free. Haha I like how even this JimiBostock from Zoo says he’s only “partly responsible” – dont want to take full credit for how bad they are??

I guess people are at least talking about them which is a win for Vikings Club BUT all for the wrong reasons and really cant see people flocking to the club on the back of these. If anything it will turn people away…

Haven’t heard anyone say one good thing about them…

……..

POW!!!

Maybe the Vikings Club love the ads and that’s exactly what they asked for….

Haha mates and I were just talking about how bad these ads are and thought we would check Riot act. Good to see its been posted and commented on. These ads are terrible on so many levels. Cant believe The Vikings Club has run with them – they are embarrassing.

Once again Zoo Advertising shows how bad they really are. Hate to think how much they charged for these – lets hope they did them for free. Haha I like how even this JimiBostock from Zoo says he’s only “partly responsible” – dont want to take full credit for how bad they are??

I guess people are at least talking about them which is a win for Vikings Club BUT all for the wrong reasons and really cant see people flocking to the club on the back of these. If anything it will turn people away…

Haven’t heard anyone say one good thing about them…

The print ads in the Canberra Weekly are terrible as well.

Generously the RiotAct has extended the reach of these ads to another audience under the guise of critical review. Funny how I didn’t see a single poker machine even though they probably outnumber the magic dudes by a fair number. And jugs of water as the intimate ice breaker? Jimmy boy what were you thinking?

The old “so bad they’re good” approach eh?

Just while we are talking about the weird homemade adverts – can anyone explain the Googong series? These are the lamest ads – and why are they all carrying plastic tongs for the omnipresent bbq? Mmm – dioxin.

gungsuperstar said :

So she wasn’t really in prison?

Then how the hell is it promoting the “Everybody’s Welcome” tagline?

They’re welcoming of bad jokes?

Welcoming of people who wear bright colours?

So is it directed at tradies or drag queens?

I’m so confused.

Focus grasshopper, the prison story is supposed to confuse you. The hidden meaning is that they accept Ranga’s.

poetix said :

JimiBostock said :

Hey, I was partly responsible for the campaign.

Thanks for talking about the ads. As the say, the only thing worse than people talking about you is no-one talking about you 🙂

If you want to quote Oscar Wilde, get it right. Or his ghost will bash you up at the Vikings Club. Queensberry rules, of course…

Getting others to do your dirty work now?

gungsuperstar6:10 pm 08 Jul 13

So she wasn’t really in prison?

Then how the hell is it promoting the “Everybody’s Welcome” tagline?

They’re welcoming of bad jokes?

Welcoming of people who wear bright colours?

So is it directed at tradies or drag queens?

I’m so confused.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd6:10 pm 08 Jul 13

Used to love Vikings erindale bistro. Cheap and consistently decent. But was disgusting last time. Seems to have changed hands. Lower quality, different staff than normal and higher prices.

Unfortunate.

Apart from the Vikings logo at the end of the ads not a horned helmet to be seen anywhere.Mind you the notion that Vikings wore horned helmets is a myth.

I heard it on radio – brilliant campaign. It’s actually aimed at middle-class lefties, who are pretty alienated from the clubs sector (large audience segment), rather than ex-cons (tiny audience segment)!

poetix said :

JimiBostock said :

Hey, I was partly responsible for the campaign.

Thanks for talking about the ads. As the say, the only thing worse than people talking about you is no-one talking about you 🙂

If you want to quote Oscar Wilde, get it right. Or his ghost will bash you up at the Vikings Club. Queensberry rules, of course…

Good point … was a bit rushed … too busy writing the next instalments perhaps 🙂

JimiBostock said :

Hey, I was partly responsible for the campaign.

Thanks for talking about the ads. As the say, the only thing worse than people talking about you is no-one talking about you 🙂

If you want to quote Oscar Wilde, get it right. Or his ghost will bash you up at the Vikings Club. Queensberry rules, of course…

Hey, I was partly responsible for the campaign.

Thanks for talking about the ads. As the say, the only thing worse than people talking about you is no-one talking about you 🙂

Barcham said :

Seriously though, if Viking clubs have become the place to play Magic the Gathering with other guys, girls, adorable ex-cons, and surprisingly tolerant sport-loving Fathers then I am totally signing up for a membership.

Still seems impossible that women might like sport though. Or that married people might sit together without bickering.

p1 said :

But was she actually in prison or not? And what colour was the jumpsuit? So many unanswered questions.

You need to watch Wentworth on Fox to find out.

Unfortunately, they don’t show it at Vikings

But was she actually in prison or not? And what colour was the jumpsuit? So many unanswered questions.

XO_VSOP said :

Its thinks its great, ZOO advertising created it.

XO_VSOP said :

Its thinks its great, ZOO advertising created it.

and how long have you worked there?

Seriously though, if Viking clubs have become the place to play Magic the Gathering with other guys, girls, adorable ex-cons, and surprisingly tolerant sport-loving Fathers then I am totally signing up for a membership.

Its thinks its great, ZOO advertising created it.

bd84 said :

The everyone’s welcome line is a dead giveaway..

Dead people also welcome.

Prison lady is good-lookin’, JS.

I think James needs to climb back into his little bubble world, not everything needs to be dissected and examined under a microscope.

The ads are quite clever for a low budget attempt to attract more people and recognise the brand name. Like the majority of other ads, they’re not targeted at anyone specific and are designed to be clever and appeal to the general population to gain recognition. The everyone’s welcome line is a dead giveaway..

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.